Hi, I would like to run my Lionchief set with a Lionel CW-80 transformer instead of the supplied wall pack. If I hook the wires from the terminal track to the CW-80 Track power outlets what do I set the speed control to? Do I just leave it in the off position or does it have to be turned up?
Thank you,
Chuck
Thank you, Larry,
I obviously skipped over that part when I read my manual. I was too anxious to get the train set up.
Chuck
You're welcome.
Enjoy your trains.
Larry
You can set the transformer lower than 18 it will limit the top speed of the locomotive and help keep the train on the track when little users are using it.
Chief,
Thank you very much, that question was also on my mind.
Chuck
Hello, Received CW-80 transformer from Trainworld and it's working fine. However, it came with a 2 foot long piece of dual wire with spade connections on one end, but no instructions, users manual or warranty card. Is this normal? Tried to post a pic of my layout but it didn't work.
Thanks, again, for help getting it going.
Chuck
Regarding lowering AC voltage using a transformer: Attached is a chart of maximum speeds (in scale miles per hour) for the Diesel from a 6-84719 Santa Fe Super Chief set and an 0-8-0 Steam Engine from a 6-84725 Southern Pacific Rising Sun set. They are somewhat similar behavior from 14 VAC to 18 VAC with perhaps 16 VAC being the "sweet spot" for a nice top speed of 60 mph.
Also, I did current draw tests under different conditions for the two engines. Running at a moderate speed, the Diesel was 300 mA and the Steam engine 150 mA. Stalled at a moderate speed setting the Diesel was 700 mA and the Steam engine 450 mA. Stalled at the maximum speed setting the Diesel was 1500 mA and the Steam engine 1620 mA. Since the 36 watt "Wallpack" that comes with each set is 2 amps, one can easily handle both trains unless both were stalled at maximum speed settings.
If you want to use the LionChief 36 watt Wallpack (that comes with each set) and drop its voltage, there is a way. The Wallpack is DC and a cheap and easy way to reduce its output voltage is to wire a string of diodes in series. Each diode will drop about 0.6 volts (and dissipate 1.2 watts if the supply were delivering its full 2 amps - typically much less). Just use as many diodes in series as you need to drop the maximum speed to something less terrifying than the stock maximum speed. And use diodes with at least a 3 amp rating.